Rapids Sign American Defender Chase Hilgenbrinck

COMMERCE CITY CO. (Thursday January 24 2008)– The Colorado Rapids announced today that they have signed defender CHASE HILGENBRINCK who will report to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this weekend for the beginning of training camp. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed per team and league policy.

"Chase will use his speed and experience to help us continue to bolster our defense that gave up the third fewest goals in the league this past season said head coach Fernando Clavijo.

Hilgenbrinck has spent his entire professional career in Chile after going undrafted in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. He signed with Huachipato of the first division and was then loaned to Naval. After his contract expired with Huachipato he signed with Ñublense in the second division. Hilgenbrinck helped "Los Diablos Rojos" gain promotion to the first division in 2006.

The Quincy Illinois product played his college soccer at Clemson University. Hilgenbrinck started 58 of the 74 games he played over four years and scored three goals while recording 10 assists. While with the Tigers he played on the same backline as US National Team defender Oguchi Onyewu.

In other roster moves the Rapids declined to extend the contracts of midfielder JOSE CANCELA and defender TONY SANNEH.